My 8 year old wrote FUCK in our house dust

[sobercuriouskind]

AIBU to worry about my 8 year old's language or how dusty and neglected our house is (we are week 13 into renovations and building work and I work full-time). No money left for a cleaner. Please send sympathy and how to address the FUCK issue

Good idea ^ One for the wedding speeches perhaps?

As PP have said, it looks like a builder (adult) wrote that, not an 8 year old child. If it's your child I would simply ask him to dust the item to remove it.

The child has confessed!

At least it wasn't written on her leg in felt tip pen that wouldn't clean off (that's what my child did not so long since: a smiley face on one leg and the word "arse" on the other 😂)

Reminds me of when I wrote 'shit' on the fridge using colourful magnetic letters at a similar age. Sounds like you've dealt with it fine, my mother wasn't taken in by my excuse that I'd tried to write 'ship' but couldn't find a p and threatened to wash my mouth out with soap if I did it again

If an adult had written it, it would be considerably neater!

Wait until you get 'sex' too

In dust writing (not actual dtd)

He confessed and apologised = he didn't require a punishment.

I used to wonder how my mum knew what boys I fancied at school. It's because I used to write love hearts on the inside of the steamed up shower cubicle not realising I was leaving marks

I’m more horrified about the amount of dust clutches pearls

Tell her it's not a nice word to write but don't go any further than that.

Just be quite firm.

My 5 year old DD once said to me "mummy you're fuicking lovely". I was laughing to much to tell her off properly

@keepmehappy
He was praised for telling me the truth and for apologising. His "punishment" is to give him time to reflect on his actions and ensures he won't do it again. Also helps him to learn that domestic tasks are shared in the home and not just for parents to do.
Works for him, and for us - as his parents.

The kids a lovely writer .

Remind the child that some words are viewed as socially inappropriate and they need to be used carefully.

Then hand the kids some dusting cloths.

My 11 year old wrote 'twat' on a piece of paper he'd been writing and drawing on at school.... but he didn't know it was a bad word 😬 no other swear words written anywhere so I believed him.

Tell him/ her they need to work on their joined up writing, and that word had better not put on another appearance for about 5 years.

Hold on to your sanity with the renovation , be prepared to run out of money before you get to the interesting interior design bit.

When DS1 was in year 2 his class was given the task of writing what they thought the school rules should be. DS1's included 'don't be a fucking person'. He then told the head master 'mummy and daddy let me use that language at home'. We don't!

A stern talking to about language and YouTube taken away for a few days sorted that problem out. Now he's 9 he tells me off if I slip up and swear within earshot!

No way is that an 8 yr olds writing

I’m amazed (rolling my eyes) at this. It’s a non event.
8 year old writes (neatly for his age) correct spelling of FUCK, and??
Your family all share (not dusting) domestic tasks
He gets 1 minute per letter of dusting, as punishment
Plus, reflection time.
Well done you. I think super nanny has a vacancy,

Well, someone's had a sense of humour failure.

I'd literally raise an eyebrow, point at it, mutter 'really ? remove that please. Now where's your shoes /coat /whatever'

I'm so glad someone else uses this method of parenting, it's my go to reposnse to most issues and seems to have worked so far.

DS1 was in the back of DH's car a few years ago and the windows had all steamed up in the back as it was very cold. As his window steamed I noticed he'd written something, took another look and realised he'd written 'bellend' on the window with an arrow pointing towards DH in the front. (DH had technically been a bit of a bellend on the trip, so it wasn't unjustified.) All he needed was a frown and a raised eyebrow and he's never done it since.

Giving them a bollocking about swearwords makes the swearwords more powerful I think. Shutting it down without drama seems to work well here.

@Yesicancancan I took your reply seriously until you "rolled your eyes"
Lighten up. It was really just a bit of fun and silliness for a Wednesday morning. Sorry I didn't stick to the agenda of "DH not pulling his weight" or "My M-in-law is a CF".

Off to read some of your -more thought provoking I am sure - posts.

I had fairy wallpaper at that age. I gave several of them felt-tip pen penises and boobs and then lived in fear of my parents noticing when I couldn't rub them off.

I've turned out relatively normal - Hopefully you DD will too op.